Hello My Name Is Jesus ~ (10 of 10) ~ I Am The Door

MESSAGE OVERVIEW

This is the final installment of Pastor Greg’s ten-week series called “Hello My Name Is Jesus.” We’ve been studying ten times Jesus told us clearly who He is by using statements that begin “I Am….” This week, Pastor Greg teaches on a passage from John 10 where Jesus describes eternal life like a serene sheep pen and pasture and He describes Himself as the door into that pasture. Jesus tells us this week: “I Am The Door!”

MESSAGE NOTES

Thura (GREEK) ~ Door (ENGLISH)door, gate, portal, entrance. Metaphorically, in classic Greek literature, it is also used to refer to an opportunity.

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter by the door into the fold of the sheep, but climbs up some other way, he is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is a shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.” ~ John 10:1-6

This figure of speech Jesus spoke to them, but they did not understand what those things were which He had been saying to them. So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. ~ John 10:7-9

Christianity is NOT a RELIGION ABOUT Jesus!Christianity IS a RELATIONSHIP WITH Jesus!

Pulé (GREEK) ~ Door (ENGLISH)This word usually refers to a large door or gate into a city. In antiquity, this word usually carried with it the element of authority or power.

Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it. ~ Matthew 7:13-14

And [Jesus] was passing through from one city and village to another, teaching, and proceeding on His way to Jerusalem. And someone said to Him, “Lord, are there just a few who are being saved?” And He said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. – Luke 13:22-24

Once the head of the house gets up and shuts the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock on the door, saying, ‘Lord, open up to us!’ then He will answer and say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in Your presence, and You taught in our streets’; and He will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you are from; depart from Me, all you evildoers.’ ~ Luke 13:25-27

Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. ~ Matthew 7:21

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me. ~ Revelation 3:20

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. ~ John 10:10

GO DEEPER ~ ALOHA GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

READ:John 10:1-9DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) In the full context of this chapter, Jesus is referring to Himself being the shepherd of the sheep, the door into the sheep pen and the doorkeeper who opens the door for the shepherd. Is this confusing to you? How can Jesus be all three of these things at once? Can you see parallels to the Trinity in this passage? How would you assign the roles of door,door keeper and shepherd to each of the Persons of the Trinity?

2) Jesus says all those who came before Him were robbers and thieves? What is the difference between a robber and a thief? To whom do you think He is referring? When Jesus tells us to “enter through Him” how do we do that? If you were explaining that to a non-Christian friend, how would you put it in terms they would understand? What does Jesus mean when He says we will “go in an out and find pasture?”What is the “pasture” we find as His “sheep?”

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Pastor Greg again said one of his favorite truisms:“Christianity is not a religion about Jesus! Christianity is a relationship with Jesus!” Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer. What is the difference between “religion” and “relationship.”

READ: Matthew 7:13-14DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Why do you think the path to destruction is so wide and so easy to find? Why do so many people choose that path?

2) Why is the gate that leads to life so small and narrow and found by few? Why didn’t God make this gate really big and really easy to find?

READ: Luke 13:22-27DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Why does Jesus say “strive” to enter the narrow door? What does it mean to strive and why do we have to strive to reach the narrow door? Jesus gives us a reason we should strive. He says it is because any will seek to enter and will not be able. Why won’t they be able to enter?

2) Jesus says people will be knocking on the door after God closes it and yet God won’t let them in. Why is that? Does that make God cruel or unfeeling that He won’t open the door to those that are knocking? What will happen to these people that missed the deadline?

READ: Matthew 7:21DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Pastor Greg shared this verse with us last week. It comes right before Jesus’ description of being able to know people “by their fruits.”Who are the people who cry out “Lord, Lord…” in this passage and in the Luke 13 passage you just read? Why does Jesus doubt their sincerity when they call Him their Lord in the last days when judgment comes?

2) Jesus says only those who do the will of His Father will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Yet, the Apostle Paul told us it is by grace that we have been saved, through faith, and not the result of works. Is there a contradiction here? Paul says we get in through faith and grace not works but Jesus says we get in by doing the will of the Father? Which is it? Both? How do these two statements fit together without being contradictory?

READ: Revelation 3:20DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Pastor Greg described the connecting pair of doors between two hotel rooms as a metaphor for thinking about the truth of this passage. He said Jesus’ heart is one room and your heart is the other room. You each have a door that either grants or limits access to your room/heart. Jesus has opened wide the door to His heart (and thus a relationship with Him that leads to our salvation)and now He is knocking on the door to your heart, asking to come into your heart and start that relationship. Did that help you to understand this verse better? Do you think that makes sense? Can you think of a better analogy to help someone understand what Revelation 3:20 means?

2) Jesus has infinite power and He knows a saving relationship with Him is the best thing for you, so why not just kick open the door or pick the lock to your heart? Why does Jesus, instead, stand outside and patiently knock, waiting for you to make the next move?

READ: John 10:10DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

1) Pastor Greg gave us the deeper definition for the Greek word that is translated “abundantly” in this verse. Did that help you understand the level of life Jesus is offering to us while we still live on planet earth? Why or why not?

2) Pastor Greg shared that many people misinterpret this promise of Jesus and think He was talking about an abundant or extravagant physical and financial lifestyle. Pastor Greg said Jesus really intended this as a promise of spiritual abundance, not physical or financial abundance. Do you agree or disagree? Explain your answer. Do you feel as though you are currently living “The Abundant Life?” Why or why not? Explain your answer. If you are not currently experiencing the abundant life, what changes can you make to day to help you change that situation for the better?